Looping - Der lange Traum vom kurzen Glück (1981)

Directors:

Walter Bockmayer
Rolf Bührmann

Writers:

Pea Fröhlich (writer)
Peter Märthesheimer (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A small carnival is in dire financial straits. Their show is attracting fewer and fewer paying customers...

Plot Keywords:

Stripper | Showbiz | Female Nudity | Artist

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Hans Christian Blech	...	Johnny
Shelley Winters	...	Carmen
Ingrid Caven	...	Inga
Sydne Rome	...	Tanja
Adrian Hoven	...	Capone
Barbara Valentin	...	Helma
Peter Chatel	...	Sirmone
Johanna König	...	Pritty
Peter Schlesinger	...	Loop-Verkäufer
Ila von Hasperg
Jürgen Flimm
Rolf Bührmann
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erwin Geschonneck

Also Known As:

Looping (West Germany) (short title)

Runtime:

Germany:105 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Certification:

West Germany:16 (f)

Company:

Entenproduktion

The carnival life is not an easy one!

This story concerns the lives of struggling carnival workers. Most of them are well into "middle age" (putting it politely) and overweight. On top of everything, they are broke since nobody is particularly interested in their mediocre performances. There is infighting and heavy drinking as they try to deal with their daily problems. Shelley Winters gives a great performance as the mean-spirited matriarch of the group, going by the name of "Carmen".

One fine day an attractive young woman named "Tanja" (pronounced 'Tanya' and played by Sydne Rome) appears and suggests that they let her start a strip show act. They give her a small part in their carnival lineup, and she quickly steals the show. Suddenly people are coming in to see her dancing routine, paying all kinds of money!

It should come as no surprise that Tanja has a not-so-hidden agenda: She is interested in Carmen's husband "Johnny" (played by Hans Blech). Clearly, Carmen should get rid of Tanja since she is going to cause a lot of trouble. But yet, she cannot do this since Tanja is the carnival's primary source of revenue.

What are they to do about it? You will have to watch to find out!

Additional comments: 1) The "Looping" title refers to an expensive 360-degree roller-coaster that the carnival is hoping to acquire. They "loop" by going upside down on this ride. If and when they are financially successful and buy the roller-coaster they will be "looping". 2) All the actors except for Winters and Rome are German, and this story appears to take place in Germany though no reference to it is made. It could really be anywhere. 3) Judging from the cars and clothes, this movie appears to have been made in 1970. The release date, however, indicates 1981.